CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLAR12038 Building Industry Contracts
Building Industry Contracts
All details in this unit profile for BLAR12038 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit develops a detail understanding of the impacts and role of industry specific contracts (including lump sum, cost plus, design and build) in the design and construction process including study of: contract types, documents, registration, tendering, analysis, scheduling, general conditions; introduction to Specifications as a part of contract documentation; quality control; introduction to programming techniques; variations to contracts; Conditions of Engagement of Engineering and Architectural Consultants. It looks at organisational structures which ensure effective outcomes including modeling and operations research, decision theory, decision trees, linear and dynamic programming. It provides an understanding of when to use standard or customised forms of building contracts and provides an introduction to the use of Partnering, Alliance Contracting, BOOT contracts and other non traditional forms of contracts. Case studies will be used to demonstrate unit content.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2019

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Evaluation Survey

Feedback

The handbook that we were provided was an excellent learning tool to understand each weeks topic better and give a thorough overview that the textbook didn't provide. It was very useful for the assessments which helped to provide a better understanding of the subject as well.

Recommendation

We will continue to provide a comprehensive updated study guide for the unit every term.

Feedback from Unit Evaluation Survey

Feedback

There was no interaction with the tutor in a live situation. The sound quality of some of the prerecorded materials was very poor.

Recommendation

We will include a number of live sessions throughout the term and ensure that recorded lectures with poor quality sound are updated.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. explain the need for formal contracts, and the traditional and non-traditional approaches to contracts
  2. describe the use of building contract documents and tender processes
  3. prepare a specification within your area of expertise, being aware of its critical relationship to the other contract documents and the commercial outcome of the project
  4. describe industry protocols for employing consultants, clearly stating the scope of their services
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Fundamentals of building contract management

Edition: 2nd (2009)
Authors: Uher, T & Davenport, P
Newsouth Books
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781742230214
Binding: Other

Additional Textbook Information

The Ebook of the textbook can be accessed from CQUni library and students may use that instead of purchasing a hard copy of the book.

However, if you prefer your own copy, they are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • MS Office or equivalent software
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Neda Abbasi Unit Coordinator
n.abbasi@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

The Contract

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Begin workbook

Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

The Contract

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Mar 2019

Module/Topic

The Contract

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Specifications

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

A1 Due: Week 4 Tuesday (2 Apr 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Specifications

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

The Tender Process

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Apr 2019

Module/Topic

Engaging Consultants

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 May 2019

Module/Topic

Quality Control

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

A2 Due: Week 8 Tuesday (7 May 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 13 May 2019

Module/Topic

Quality Control

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 May 2019

Module/Topic

Non Standard Contract Arrangements

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 May 2019

Module/Topic

Non Standard Contract Arrangements

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Risk Management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

A3 Due: Week 12 Tuesday (4 June 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Jun 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
A1

Task Description

The assessment questions cover aspects of contract selection and specifications, their importance and the essential requirements of work information and specifications.
The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%).


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Tuesday (2 Apr 2019) 11:55 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Monday (22 Apr 2019)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
A single word file or pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • explain the need for formal contracts, and the traditional and non-traditional approaches to contracts
  • describe the use of building contract documents and tender processes


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
A2

Task Description

The assessment questions cover aspects of recommendations and reports, the methodologies or practices used to establish consultant fees and outlines of the tender review process. The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%).


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Tuesday (7 May 2019) 11:55 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Monday (13 May 2019)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
A single word file or pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • describe the use of building contract documents and tender processes
  • describe industry protocols for employing consultants, clearly stating the scope of their services


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
A3

Task Description

The assessment questions cover aspects of systems and procedures associated with contracts administration and commercial benefits and why Public Private Partnerships (PPP) can be considered a functional infrastructure development finance vehicle.
The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%).


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Tuesday (4 June 2019) 11:55 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

After certification of grades or within two weeks of submission, which ever occurs later.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
To succeed in this unit, you must achieve 40% in assessment 3 and an overall cumulative result of 50% or more from all assessments.

Assessment Criteria

Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
A single word file or pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • explain the need for formal contracts, and the traditional and non-traditional approaches to contracts
  • prepare a specification within your area of expertise, being aware of its critical relationship to the other contract documents and the commercial outcome of the project
  • describe industry protocols for employing consultants, clearly stating the scope of their services


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?